Iran Aid Ship Nears Gaza

I don't think anyone really expected the israelis to allow this ship to dock in the vicinity. This is merely a petty and faux-macho snub of the Iranians:

Iran says Israel stops its aid ship to Gaza

13 Jan 2009 -- 12:50:20 GMT

Reporting by Hashem Kalantari, writing by Edmund Blair

TEHRAN, Jan 13 (Reuters) - An Iranian ship carrying aid to Gaza was stopped by Israel's navy on its way towards the Palestinian territory, Iran's state radio reported on Tuesday.

"An Iranian ship that was carrying foodstuff and medicine was stopped by the Zionist regime's navy 20 miles off the coast of Gaza," radio reported, adding that the ship had left the Iranian port of Bandar Abbas 13 days earlier.

Original report Here




[edit: added required EX tags]

[edit on 13-1-2009 by 12m8keall2c]

I haven't heard about this second vessel either that was supposed to be nearing the Gazan waters today.
I'll be interesting to see what the Israeli reaction is with so many press and others on board.

www.freegaza.org...

reply to post by Anonymous ATS



www.reuters.com...

Here's an updated, slightly more comprehensive report on the Iranian aid ship stopped by the israelis

There's a Greek aid ship that was still in port as of Monday, 12 January but it was supposedly preparing to sail: Greek aid ship to try Gaza mission again

And the Free Gaza ship rammed by the israelis was still in Beirut as of Monday, 12 January awaiting inspection and repairs. It's highly doubtful that ship will get underway any time soon.

This Article came out 18/02/09

The captain of an Iranian ship says his objective is to deliver humanitarian aid to Gaza and has no intention to cut his mission short.
We started moving toward the Gaza port three days ago under the escort of Israeli Navy ships. We were then returned to international waters. With the promises we have been given, I hope that we will be able to deliver the cargo either through Gaza or an Egyptian port in the next few days," the captain of the Iranian ship Shahed, Goudarz Ghaleh-Golab, told Press TV on Saturday.

Source:

Looks like their sticking close by to get the aid into Gaza.

Edit: Date Correction

[edit on 19/1/2009 by wycky]

Originally posted by jam321
I believe Israel will board it and look for weapons, allow it to disembark its cargo, and set it on its merry way. I also expect Israel to videotape every moment of it in case Iran tries to make some crazy claim. Israel will get brownie points for this one.

Israel makes crazy claims as well